388 
Dr. C. C. Assorr of Trenton N.J., who first described A. guttatus 
from a single dead specimen brought to him by Dr. Wm. ASHmEaAD of 
Anglesea N.J. discussed, at the time, with Dr. AsumEAD the manner 
in which a fish with eyes and mouth placed in such a remarkable po- 
sition could secure food enough to live on. Astroscopus has its eyes 
placed on the top of its head in such a manner that it cannot well 
see in any direction except upward. The problem as to the manner 
in which the fish secures its food may be solved by the fact that it 
has an electric organ with which it can possibly stun its prey and 
then catch it as it falls from above in the mouth that points so signi- 
ficantly upward (Fig. 13). The stomach of the only specimen that we 
have been able to examine, as to its digestive organs, contained a 
number of small, swift-swimming fishes, young herring, mackerel and 
some unidentified minnowes. 
Dr. GILBERT further described the probable position of the organ 
that produced the shock as being in the top of the head just behind 
the eyes. He based this statement upon the fact that the shock was 
felt in its fullest force when the fingers were applied to this region. 
Dr. GILBERT correctly surmised the position of the organ, as will be 
shown in part two of this paper. 
The following work on the electric organs, both their cytology 
and morphology, was based on the study of two alcoholic specimens. 
One of these had been in alcohol for twenty-two years the other 
for an unknown length of time. Notwithstanding this they were found 
to be in fair condition and much that was of interest was learned. 
It may be added, however, that the writers have taken measures to 
secure a supply of fresh material at as early a date as possible, 
and that this paper must be considered as a preliminary account of 
the work that has been outlined for the coming summer. 
The writers have many to thank for the material and information 
that enabled them to embark on this interesting work. Astroscopus 
is, if not a rare fish, one that is very hard to capture on account of 
its habit of burying itself in the sand, and few museums have dupli- 
cate specimens that are available to the investigator. In his many 
and thorough collecting trips to the regions that this fish is known 
to inhabit, Dr. GILBERT has only obtained one specimen and Dr. 
TarLeton H. Brean‘), who made a careful biological survey of the 
coast of Long Island and New Jersey, secured only a few specimen. 
The authorities of the United States National Museum sent us 
1) Catalogue of the Fishes of New York, by Tarreron H. Buan. 
New York State Museum, Bull. 60, 1903, p. 187. 
